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News: July 2009

Funding to change radically

Dara Gantly | 31 July 2009 | Health Management

The Health Service Executive (HSE) wants to radically restructure how it funds the health service by examining a new patient level costing (PLC) system that can measure the resources consumed by individual patients. The move would constitute a sweeping change... Read more

95% of Portlaoise Hospital inpatients come through ED

Gary Culliton | 31 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The HSE has acknowledged that major problems exist at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, where 95 per cent of total inpatient activity is accounted for by emergency cases, new figures obtained by Irish Medical Times reveal. The HSE ‘accepts... Read more

Stroke of genius for PCT increase

Dara Gantly | 31 July 2009 | General Practice

The HSE has achieved a 28-fold increase in the number of primary care teams (PCTs) in development, with a stroke of a pen. In March, it had three PCTs in development, but increased this to 84 the following month. According... Read more

Prof Cathal Kelly to take up post of new Chief Executive at RCS

Niamh Mullen | 30 July 2009 | Research and Education

Professor Cathal Kelly has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), and will take up the post in 2010. The Inishowen native has been the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine... Read more

HSE shows lack of understanding about GPs' work

Niamh Mullen | 30 July 2009 | General Practice

A lack of knowledge and understanding of the work of general practitioners has been shown by the Health Service Executive during the Transformation Programme. That is according to the Chairman of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), Dr Mark... Read more

HSE signs €88m deal for flu vaccine

Dara Gantly | 30 July 2009 | Public Health

The HSE has signed advance purchasing agreements with Baxter Healthcare and GlaxoSmithKline (Ireland) worth E88 million for the supply of human pandemic influenza vaccines. As exclusively revealed in Irish Medical Times last month, the HSE has also identified the location,... Read more

CervicalCheck will now invite women for screening

29 July 2009 | Public Health

The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) has today (July 29) announced that Cervical Check – the National Cervical Screening Programme – will move to population-based screening model. Women aged 25 to 60 will be invited for screening.... Read more

Ryan report to cost State more than €125m

Dara Gantly | 29 July 2009 | Medico-Legal

The likely cost to the State of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is estimated to be in the region of €126 million to €136 million, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) has revealed. In a report published today... Read more

Termination notices given by 776 pharmacists to HSE

Gary Culliton | 29 July 2009 | Public Health

The HSE has said that 776 pharmacist contractors have given the Executive agreement termination notices. A total of 867 pharmacies will be open for medical card and other State drugs schemes from August 1, as 30 days’ notice is required... Read more

EC approves Wyeth’s acquisition by Pfizer

Dara Gantly | 29 July 2009 | Regulation

The European Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of Wyeth by Pfizer, on the condition that the latter divests several types of animal health vaccines, pharmaceuticals and medicinal feed additives in the European Economic Area (EEA). Pfizer has also offered... Read more

Six-storey extension sought for Holles St

Dara Gantly | 29 July 2009 | Planning and Development

The Board of Governors of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) is seeking planning permission from Dublin City Council for a six-storey extension. The development will be sited to the rear of the existing hospital and incorporates a new ‘emergency-only’ entrance... Read more

11% increase in male self-harm

Dara Gantly | 28 July 2009 | Public Health

Last year saw a dramatic 11 per cent increase in male deliberate self-harm cases, the National Suicide Research Foundation has revealed. In total, 11,700 deliberate self-harm presentations involving 9,218 individuals of both genders were made to hospital emergency departments in... Read more

Drogheda gets 113 complaints in 2008

Niamh Mullen | 28 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Misdiagnosis, undergoing the wrong procedure, being given the wrong drugs and scans being mixed-up were among the complaints made by patients of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda last year. In 2008, 113 complaints were received. Of those, just... Read more

Bowel screening identifies 50 cases

Dara Gantly | 28 July 2009 | Public Health

Fifty people tested positive for advanced neoplasia or cancer in the initial phase of the first comprehensive bowel cancer-screening programme in the country. The results were released on July 27 at the launch of the annual report of the Tallaght... Read more

GP co-op launches cheaper HPV vaccine initiative for patients

Niamh Mullen | 28 July 2009 | Public Health

A co-op of 190 general practitioners has launched an initiative to provide the human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical cancer vaccine at a discount to its patients. North East Doctor on Call Ltd (NEDOC) has agreed a deal to buy the vaccine... Read more

Authorised medicines up 17% in one year

Dara Gantly | 28 July 2009 | News

The number of new medicines authorised by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) increased by 17 per cent in 2008, from 1,082 in 2007 to 1,268. Suspected adverse reactions were also at record levels, with the Human Medicines Department evaluating 2,742... Read more

Bord Snip proposals will 'increase blindness and visual impairment'

27 July 2009 | News

Abolition of the Optical Benefit Scheme, as proposed in the Bord Snip report, would lead to an increase in blindness and visual impairment, according to the Association of Optometrists Ireland. The Association also warned that it would cause an increase... Read more

Hospital hung up on complainer

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The way consultants spoke to patients came in for criticism in complaints made to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda last year. Many complained about the ‘manner’ in which consultants spoke to patients and relatives, as well as the... Read more

Just 19 staff seek early retirement

Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009 | Industrial Relations

Just 19 members of staff at the Department of Health have applied for early retirement under the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER). One further employee in the Office of the Ombudsman for Children — whose staff complement comes from... Read more

Rosters compliant with EWTD by August

Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009 | Industrial Relations

The HSE anticipates that rosters compliant with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) will be in place for virtually all NCHDs by the beginning of August. In legal correspondence from the HSE to the IMO, seen by Irish Medical Times,... Read more

Bord Snip Nua — NTPF should be restricted

Greg Baxter | 24 July 2009 | Health Management

The National Treatment Purchase Fund has declined to comment on a significant and potentially controversial recommendation by An Bord Snip Nua to restrict NTPF procedures to private facilities and facilities abroad. Under the recommendation, public hospitals will no longer be... Read more

Big increase in medical cards

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009 | Health Management

There has been an increase of almost 100,000 people qualifying for a medical card in the last 12 months. As of June 1, some 1,398,686 people had a medical card, an increase of 92,216 since the same date last year.... Read more

Survey to measure HSE services to Travellers

Gary Culliton | 24 July 2009 | Health Management

A survey is to be conducted in the autumn to discover where HSE staff and others believe there are shortcomings in services to Travellers. The HSE’s recent health status report found Travellers’ lifespan is ten years shorter for a male... Read more

Crumlin clears the backlog

Gary Culliton | 24 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A €2 million deal to clear the backlog of 50 scoliosis patients awaiting corrective spinal surgery at Crumlin children’s hospital, which would involve savings on management of blood and other mechanisms, is due to be completed and with the Health... Read more

HSE to cut spending on advertising and public relations in half this year

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009 | Health Management

SPENDING on advertising, public relations and consultancy in the Health Service Executive (HSE) will be cut by at least 50 per cent this year. If reduced by half, it would amount to a spend of approximately €8.5 million. The target... Read more

Doctors to discuss climate change

Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009 | Health Management

Doctor representatives will gather in Copenhagen in September to discuss the health consequences of climate change. The aim of the event — organised by the World Medical Association (WMA) — is to ensure that the medical profession’s voice is heard... Read more

Snip, snip, snip — over 6,000 staff to be cut

Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009 | Industrial Relations

An Bord Snip Nua has recommended that 6,168 staff in the health service should be axed in order to make savings of €1,230 million a year. This amounts to more than 5 per cent of the health workforce. With health... Read more

Every spend to have ‘performance charter’

By Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009 | Health Management

An Bord Snip Nua has proposed a set of radical new measures aimed at ensuring value for money in public spending. They include a suggested public service ‘performance charter’ that would be attached to every proposed new spending plan, which... Read more

Contract should be phased out

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009 | General Practice

Existing contracts with GPs should be phased out to save €370 million, according to An Bord Snip Nua. The report of the expenditure review body said it should be done as quickly as possible to achieve ‘a price acceptable and... Read more

‘Sick card’ would require law change

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009 | General Practice

BASING Medical Card eligibility criteria on medical need would change it into a ‘sick scheme’ and require a change of legislation, GP and former IMO President Dr Martin Daly has said. “If that were to be carried through, it would... Read more

Every spend to have ‘performance charter’

Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009 | Industrial Relations

An Bord Snip Nua has proposed a set of radical new measures aimed at ensuring value for money in public spending. They include a suggested public service ‘performance charter’ that would be attached to every proposed new spending plan, which... Read more

Tendering proposals would 'dismantle' GMS

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009 | General Practice

Proposals from An Bord Snip Nua to scrap GMS contracts and invite tenders by open competition to provide services would cause the ‘dismantling’ of general practice in Ireland. Dr Martin Daly, GP and former IMO President, said: “It would amount... Read more

‘Early transfer’ pilot programme launched

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

AN ‘early transfer’ pilot programme to reduce the time taken to move patients from the emergency department to a ward has been implemented by the Health Service Executive (HSE) at four hospitals. From July 1, Tallaght Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, Our... Read more

ICTU calls for co-location tax breaks review

Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called upon the Government to review its system of tax breaks supporting the co-location project. Delegates at the recent (July 7 to 10) ICTU biennial conference in Tralee, Co Kerry carried a... Read more

Leas Cross probe set to cost over €2m

Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009 | Public Health

The total cost for the Commission of Investigation established to investigate the management, operation and supervision of the former Leas Cross Nursing Home is expected to be in the region of €2.1 million. The figure for producing the report —... Read more

Routine swabs not advised

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009 | Public Health

ONLY GPs participating in the Influenza Sentinel Surveillance scheme should continue to routinely swab people who are presenting with suspected swine flu. A total of 60 general practices are taking part in the scheme, comprising 136 GPs and covering some... Read more

Snip: 'co-payments' slammed by State drugs chief

Gary Culliton | 21 July 2009 | Health Management

Increases in co-payments for prescription medicines, which were proposed by An Bord Snip, have been slamed by the State’s pharmaceonomics Chief. The McCarthy Commission proposed increasing Drug Payment Scheme co-payments to €125, as well as raising Long Term Illness (LTI)... Read more

Some pharmacies to shut on Wednesday

Gary Culliton | 21 July 2009 | Public Health

Some pharmacies may be closed for the morning and early afternoon of Wednesday, 22 July as pharmacists are expected to attend an emergency information session in Dublin, which is being organised by the Irish Pharmacy Union. Pharmacists are advising patients... Read more

Patients have to wait up to ten months for test

Gary Culliton | 20 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

New figures obtained by Irish Medical Times reveal the extent of waiting times facing patients in need of ultrasound tests – a key element in the Government’s cancer strategy – with some patients having to wait ten months. The waiting... Read more

Anti-virals to be free

Gary Culliton | 20 July 2009 | Public Health

There have now been over 150 cases of influenza A(H1N1) confirmed in Ireland. Since April, the HSE’s public health doctors have been managing cases as they arose while finalising plans to respond to a more severe evolution of what is... Read more

New HSE pharmacies being set up

Gary Culliton | 20 July 2009 | Public Health

As part of the ongoing programme to lower medicine prices, some pharmacists have advised the HSE that from 1st August 2009 they will stop filling prescriptions under these Schemes, as a result of the HSE's move the reduce the rates... Read more

Cancer Society provides €1 million for bowel cancer screening

Gary Culliton | 20 July 2009 | Public Health

The Irish Cancer Society has offered €1m in funding towards the rollout of a national bowel cancer screening programme, for all men and women aged 55 – 74 years living in Ireland. The Society has also welcomed the recent HIQA... Read more

Leas Cross: HSE supervision 'seriously lacking'

Gary Culliton | 20 July 2009 | Health Management

Supervision of the Leas Cross nursing home by the former Northern Area Health Board and the Health Service Executive was seriously lacking, a new report has found. Standards of care at Leas Cross nursing home fell below acceptable levels for... Read more

GPs: deficit in epilepsy care

Gary Culliton | 20 July 2009 | Public Health

A deficit in epilepsy care expertise among GPs was acknowledged by over a third (35 per cent) of doctors surveyed in a study on epilepsy care in general practice by Varley et al, based at Beaumont Hospital. GPs reported difficulty... Read more

Swine flu: new guidelines for frontline staff

Gary Culliton | 18 July 2009 | Public Health

There are now 144 confirmed cases of A(H1N1) influenza in Ireland. The number of in-country transmissions is four. Numbers of cases continue to rise at an increased rate in Ireland. The HSE will be communicating with health service frontline staff... Read more

Diabetes 'twice as high among travellers'

Gary Culliton | 18 July 2009 | Public Health

Pre-diabetes, Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome were at least twice as common in the traveller population when compared to data available for the background Irish population, a study by Tan et al, based at NUI Galway and published in the... Read more

Hospitals lose €20 million

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been told that hospitals anticipate a full year loss of more than €20 million in private income due to the implementation of the new consultants’ contract. HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm has acknowledged that... Read more

Guts & vision needed in medicine

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Health Management

The Minister for Health Mary Harney has defended HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm in the Dáil, describing him as a man of ‘guts’ and ‘vision’. Speaking prior to Prof Drumm’s appearance before the Oireachtas Health Committee last week to discuss... Read more

'Scrap GP rostering grant' — An Bord Snip

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | General Practice

The HSE has targeted overspending in the West/North West and Midwest networks in an effort to address its current deficit of €83.2 million. According to the latest financial figures presented to the HSE Board last week, the Executive recorded total... Read more

Overspending in some HSE areas targeted

Niamh Mullen | 17 July 2009 | General Practice

Scrapping a ‘rostering grant’ paid to GPs under the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) is among the cuts said to be recommended in An Bord Snip Nua’s report. Separately, the PCRS itself suggested to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) discontinuing... Read more

64 new complaints made against Shine

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Regulation

Sixty-four new complaints have been made to the Gardaí against Michael Shine subsequent to the decision by the Medical Council last year to strike the doctor off the register, the Minister for Justice has confirmed. Speaking in the Dáil, Minister... Read more

Minister leads cabinet... in mobile phone charges

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Health Management

Minister for Health Mary Harney rang up a mobile phone bill of €5,409.73 last year — far outstripping her Cabinet colleagues, including Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Her departmental mobile bill for 2008 included €2,247.95 in roaming charges and €1,631.05 for data... Read more

IMO back in court on EWTD

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Industrial Relations

The IMO was expected back in the High Court this week to seek the full implementation of the High Court settlement agreed between the union and the HSE back in April. The agreement settled the action taken by six NCHDs... Read more

Poor women are more likely to have abnormal smear test results

Mary Anne Kenny | 17 July 2009 | Public Health

Poorer women are more likely to have abnormal smear-test results. Figures from the 2008 Well Woman report show that the rate of abnormal smear results requiring further investigation was higher among medical-card holders. From 2002 to 2008, Well Woman conducted... Read more

48-hour week not possible – RCSI

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Research and Education

The RCSI has told the Minister for Health that it is not possible to implement the 48-hour week for NCHDs in the Irish health service from August 1. The College has warned the Department of Health that it would in... Read more

HSE may seek losses from medical cards

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Health Management

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised the Department of Health that it has commenced calculations to determine if any money can be recouped from those aged 70 and over who held onto medical cards to which they were no... Read more

Change of plans to mean nursing home at Beacon?

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The company behind Beacon Court in Sandyford wants to convert a substantial part of an 11-storey apartment and office block at the Dublin development into a residential nursing home. Landmark Enterprises Ltd has applied to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for... Read more

GPs in Kerry want Bord Pleanála ruling

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Planning and Development

Kerry GPs have asked An Bord Pleanála to rule on the zoning status of a dispensary for prescribed medicines. Locals GPs behind the planned primary care centre for Killarney have made the appeal following the decision by Killarney Town Council... Read more

Stem-cell lab to be removed

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A new high-tech stem cell lab at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin will have to be removed from the hospital in seven years under an order from Dublin City Council (DCC). The single-storey, 89 sqm prefabricated Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant... Read more

HSE reviewing co-ops to 'achieve efficiencies'

Niamh Mullen | 17 July 2009 | General Practice

A review of the country’s 13 GP co-ops is being undertaken by the Health Service Executive to achieve administrative efficiencies. A HSE Project Team has met all GP co-ops and extended hours services in the country. “Further consultations will take... Read more

Doctors face removal threat

Niamh Mullen | 17 July 2009 | Regulation

AROUND 7,500 doctors run the risk of being removed from the Register of Medical Practitioners for non-payment of the annual retention fee. It was due on July 1 and the Medical Council has confirmed that 10,000 have paid the fee,... Read more

Changing medical card eligibility would require change of legislation

Niamh Mullen | 16 July 2009 | General Practice

Basing medical card eligibility criteria on medical need would change it into a ‘sick scheme’ and require a change of legislation, GP and former IMO President Dr Martin Daly has said. “If that were to be carried through, it would... Read more

‘Performance charters’ would ensure value for money

Dara Gantly | 16 July 2009 | Health Management

An Bord Snip Nua has proposed a set of radical new measures aimed at ensuring value for money in public spending. They include a suggested public service ‘performance charter’ that would be attached to every proposed new spending plan, which... Read more

Scrapping GMS contracts would 'dismantle' general practice

Niamh Mullen | 16 July 2009 | General Practice

Proposals from An Bord Snip Nua to scrap GMS contracts and invite tenders by open competition to provide services would cause the ‘dismantling’ of general practice in Ireland. GP and former IMO President, Dr Martin Daly, said: “It would amount... Read more

Generic prescribing should be protocol, say recommendations

Greg Baxter | 16 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Hospitals and clinicians should be required by protocol to prescribe generic medicines, off-patent drugs and value-for-money high-tech treatments, according to the An Bord Snip Nua report. They should also have centralised procurement and better management of stocks, the report stated,... Read more

5% of health staff should go

Dara Gantly | 16 July 2009 | Features

An Bord Snip Nua has recommended that 6,168 staff in the health service should be axed in order to make savings of €1,230 million a year. This amounts to more than 5 per cent of the entire workforce. With health... Read more

NTPF treatments should be restricted to private facilities - An Bord Snip

Greg Baxter | 16 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Public hospitals will no longer be allowed to perform procedures under the National Treatment Purchase Fund, if a recommendation of the An Bord Snip Nua report is implemented. Such procedures would be restricted to private facilities and abroad.... Read more

Bord Snip Nua recommends phasing out of existing GP contracts

Niamh Mullen | 16 July 2009 | General Practice

Existing contracts with GPs should be phased out to save €370 million, according to An Bord Snip Nua. The report of the expenditure review body said it should be done as quickly as possible to achieve ‘a price acceptable and... Read more

Bord Snip: reduce HSE staff by 6,000

16 July 2009 | Health Management

Staff reductions of 6,000 "at a minimum" in the Health service are proposed in the report of An Bord Snip, which has identified potential annual health savings of just under €1,230 m. It proposes that staffing numbers be reduced by... Read more

Patients still on 'party pills'

Niamh Mullen | 16 July 2009 | Research and Education

A study by the Drug Treatment Centre Board has found 7.5 per cent of its patients tested positive for BZP, the so-called ‘party pills’ banned in Ireland earlier this year. Of 254 samples tested at the centre’s Drug Analysis Laboratory,... Read more

1,900 wait on Galway BCG list

Niamh Mullen | 16 July 2009 | Public Health

A staggering 1,900 babies are on the waiting list for a BCG vaccine in Galway – twice the figure reported this time last year. Asked about the reason for the backlog, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said the number of... Read more

Details needed from St James's

Dara Gantly | 16 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Dublin City Council (DCC) has requested additional information from St James’s Hospital over plans for a new 2,233 square-metre, three-storey administration block on the hospital campus. The Council has ruled that the proposed Administration Block is located on a section... Read more

GPs must address weight problem in kids

Niamh Mullen | 15 July 2009 | Public Health

GPs need to broach obesity during consultations with patients who come to them with other ailments, according to Dr Eva Orsmond. A star of the hit RTE weight-loss show Operation Transformation and proprietor of Orsmond Clinics, she said she found... Read more

Rise in demand for obesity surgery

Niamh Mullen | 15 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Niamh Mullen takes a close look at the growing area of bariatric surgery in Ireland, where it is carried out, how many people are now opting for it and how much the procedures cost. A public obesity clinic offering weight-loss... Read more

Hospitals breach length-of-stay targets

Gary Culliton | 14 July 2009 | Health Management

Breaches of HSE length of stay targets at five Dublin hospitals accounted for almost 6,000 bed days in April. On average, the HSE calculates that Tallaght Hospital is keeping every patient in hospital 18 per cent longer than it should,... Read more

President opens Galway cancer centre

Gary Culliton | 14 July 2009 | Public Health

President Mary McAleese has officially opened Cancer Care West’s new Cancer Support Centre in Westside, Galway.
 A range of psychological, practical and complementary therapies are offered at the centre. It is modelled on the Maggie’s Centres co-founded in Britain in... Read more

Drugs: 'a €100 million rip off'

Gary Culliton | 13 July 2009 | Health Management

The taxpayer is being ripped off to the tune of €100 million on the cost of drugs in Ireland when compared to the cost of UK generic medicines, Fine Gael Health spokesperson, Dr James Reily has said. Dr Reilly claims... Read more

'Tougher law needed' on selling cigarettes to children

Gary Culliton | 13 July 2009 | Public Health

Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD, is seeking to amend the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill so that the maximum penalty of 90 days suspension from the retail register applies to retailers who sell cigarettes to minors.
 Dr... Read more

Eleven new cases of swine flu

Gary Culliton | 10 July 2009 | Public Health

A total of eleven new cases of swine flu have been confirmed by the Department of Health. The number of confirmed cases of Influenza A(H1N1) has reached 104 in Ireland. The number of in-country transmissions is nine. Numbers of confirmed... Read more

Lawyers' health bonanza

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009 | Health Management

The legal profession has been paid more than €107 million in fees by the HSE since 2005, new figures have revealed. Just last year, €36.6 million was paid out by the Executive on external legal costs — a 20 per... Read more

The €6 million euro men/women

Niamh Mullen | 10 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

SURGERIES for morbidly obese Irish people could cost almost E6 million annually in a few years. At a cost of more than E12,000 for a gastric bypass and more than E13,000 for gastric banding, it would cost approximately E5.8 million... Read more

2,305 HSE staff (2 per cent of total) on maternity leave

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009 | Health Management

The HSE has reiterated that vacancies in the health service arising from maternity leave are to be filled in the first instance by the redeployment of staff or the reallocation of work. The Executive has revealed that it has 2,305... Read more

IMO expects terms to be honoured

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009 | Health Management

The IMO expects the terms of the new consultant contract to be fully honoured by the Government. It emerged earlier this week that the spending review group, An Bord Snip Nua, was due to recommend a renegotiation of the deal... Read more

Nursing-home residents to be levied

10 July 2009 | Health Management

Elderly residents of nursing homes are to be levied with the second-home tax, as nursing homes are to be considered their primary residence and their family home their second residence, Fine Gael Environment Spokesman, Phil Hogan TD, has claimed. “Even... Read more

Parents ask for children to be treated in Dublin

Niamh Mullen | 10 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Parents of diabetic children in Cork are asking to be referred to hospitals in Dublin, where they believe their children will receive superior treatment. Consultant paediatrician at Cork University Hospital (CUH), Dr John McKiernan, said patients were not being treated... Read more

UHCG surgeons taught rare surgical procedure

Niamh Mullen | 10 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A world-renowned specialist in minimally invasive surgery visited Ireland last week to perform a procedure that has never been done here before. Prof Martin Walz of the University Hospital of Essen in Germany came to University College Hospital Galway (UCHG)... Read more

Thalidomide survivors to lose social welfare Christmas bonus

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009 | Public Health

Ireland’s 32 thalidomide survivors are to be included in the Government’s planned withdrawal of the Christmas bonus for social welfare recipients, it has emerged. Minister of State at the Department of Health John Moloney told the Dáil on June 23... Read more

9,000 babies still waiting for BCG

Niamh Mullen | 10 July 2009 | Public Health

More than 9,000 babies in Cork remain on the waiting list for a BCG vaccine nine months after the universal Neonatal BCG Programme began. This means little progress has been made clearing the backlog since last summer, when around there... Read more

Visually impaired need holistic care

Niamh Mullen | 10 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The challenge in meeting the needs of visually impaired children over the next 20 years is to develop holistic care, according to an Irish expert. Prof Jonathan Jackson from the Department of Ophthalmology at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast... Read more

Early diagnosis system for scleroderma launched

Mary Anne Kenny | 10 July 2009 | Public Health

A new programme to speed up the diagnosis of scleroderma in Ireland has just been launched. Under the VEDOSS (Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis) system, GPs are being asked to refer to a rheumatologist any patient with two or... Read more

Once-off training to put doctors on register

Niamh Mullen | 10 July 2009 | Regulation

More than 200 GPs not listed on the Medical Council’s Specialist Register have responded to ads placed by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) inviting them to make contact. The ICGP is now in talks with the Health Service... Read more

HSE proposes projects to be funded from sale of psychiatric properties

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009 | Health Management

The Department of Health is currently considering a proposal from the HSE detailing the projects to be funded from E42 million received from the disposal of psychiatric properties, before forwarding it to the Department of Finance. The ‘Vision for Change’... Read more

HSE urges staff to get all laptops encrypted

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

More than 90 per cent of the 5,400 laptops currently in use by HSE staff have been encrypted. Encryption of all laptops commenced last September, with priority being given to those holding clinical and other sensitive data.... Read more

Mater re-opens emergency department

10 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The Mater Hospital’s Emergency Department reopened to the public on Sunday, July 5. Extensive repair works were carried out throughout the weekend in the department, which closed on Thursday July 2, due to flood damage. Heavy overnight rains early Thursday... Read more

Migraine Association to tweet its updates

10 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

MIGRAINE sufferers can now get up to date information through Twitter. The Migraine Association of Ireland (MAI) is using the latest social networking phenomenon to update people on news and research from the world of migraine. Up to now, it... Read more

Respite care 'outsourced for Summer'

Gary Culliton | 09 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A summer care management service is to be introduced at Cherry Orchard Hospitals, which will affect respite care and small number of long-term beds at the hospital over the coming months, the HSE has said. From mid-July alternate arrangements will... Read more

Monaghan's acute medical services to move to Cavan

08 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The HSE has announced that all acute medical services will be transferred from Monaghan Hospital to Cavan General Hospital on 22/07/09. From that date, there will be no further Emergency services provided in Monaghan Hospital and there will be no... Read more

Drumm slams Crumlin management

Gary Culliton | 08 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

HSE Chief Executive Prof Brendan Drumm yesterday slammed management at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. Following a high level review of the financial situation at the hospital by Ms. Raymonde O’Sullivan – a Senior Director in the... Read more

Most who died of swine flu 'had other underlying causes'

07 July 2009 | Public Health

It has been estimated by the CDC that over one million Americans have had swine flu, even though only 34,000 cases have been confirmed in laboratory tests. An analysis of 99 US residents who have died of swine flu shows... Read more

Child deaths review group 'reflects chaos'

Gary Culliton | 07 July 2009 | Health Management

The setting up of a review group to inquire into the deaths of 20 children in care, is an "example of the chaotic manner in which the HSE deals with the area of child protection. It is nothing more than... Read more

Delays with Capacity Bill will hurt patients

Greg Baxter | 07 July 2009 | Public Health

People who are mentally incapacitated will continue to be unprotected because of the Government’s decision to delay the new Mental Capacity Bill until the end of the year, the College of Psychiatry of Ireland has warned. The Bill will replace... Read more

New prostate cancer treatment 'has fewer side effects'

Gary Culliton | 06 July 2009 | Public Health

An Experimental cancer therapy for prostate cancer may be able to treat men without surgery and offer fewer side effects according to the results of a UK study published in the British Journal of Cancer. A group of 172 men... Read more

Fergal Bowers to judge Irish Healthcare Awards

Niamh Mullen | 06 July 2009 | Research and Education

RTE Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers has joined the judging panel for the Irish Healthcare Awards 2009. Before joining RTE, he was editor of irishhealth.com. He has won a number of national journalism awards for his reporting. He said the health... Read more

Advertising to begin for Operations Directors

Dara Gantly | 06 July 2009 | Health Management

The HSE intends to advertise internally for the four positions of Regional Operations Director in the coming weeks, Irish Medical Times has learned. Envisaged under the second wave of HSE organisational change, the job description for the four permanent posts... Read more

Drumm: '€100,000 deficit at Crumlin'

04 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

HSE Chief Executive Prof Brendan Drumm has said that Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin would have a deficit of €100,000 at the end of the year, according to the hospital’s own figures. He rejected reports of a €9m hole... Read more

Cut out cancer bias says EU

Dara Gantly | 03 July 2009 | Public Health

Ireland could soon have a new cancer initiative that would achieve 100 per cent population coverage for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening — courtesy of the European Union. The EU wants to see the programme established throughout the continent,... Read more

Customers to report errors to Vhi

Mary Anne Kenny | 03 July 2009 | Private Healthcare

Vhi Healthcare has asked its customers to act as a watchdog and help minimise the number of billing errors or cases of overcharging experienced by customers. On Monday, the company launched a Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and outlined how customers... Read more

GPs should record BMIs of women

Niamh Mullen | 03 July 2009 | General Practice

GPs should record the body mass index (BMI) of every woman on the contraceptive pill and not just their weight, the ICGP Summer School heard. Dr Deirdre Lundy of the Bray Women’s Health Clinic said there had been a case... Read more

Outpatient no-shows cost HSE €33m

Gary Culliton | 03 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The cost to the health service of patients who do not turn up to hospital outpatient clinic appointments may reach €33 million this year. Figures obtained by IMT show that at 30 hospitals monitored by the HSE, there were 35,042... Read more

HSE staff to move from hospitals to community

Gary Culliton | 03 July 2009 | Health Management

The number of HSE staff on short-time temporary contracts is to be substantially reduced, with 1,000 permanent posts being created. At a meeting with health service trade unions which took place yesterday, the HSE outlined its plans to roll out... Read more

Hold on all uncommitted HSE projects

Dara Gantly | 03 July 2009 | Health Management

The HSE has completed its review of projects earmarked for development in 2009 and has submitted a revised capital plan to the Department of Health for approval, Irish Medical Times has learned. The public capital programme in last October’s Budget... Read more

Consultant level in six areas to fall short by 2020

Dara Gantly | 03 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

There will be a shortage of consultants in six of the nine major specialties in Irish hospitals by 2020, a new workforce report has predicted. It is says that total consultant numbers would need to be almost 1,700 greater than... Read more

IMB voices concern over safety of 'First Steps' medicine feeders

Dara Gantly | 03 July 2009 | Regulation

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has advised the public to stop using ‘First Steps’ medicine feeders over potential safety and quality concerns. Manufactured by RSW International Ltd, the devices marketed for the administration of liquid medicines to babies and children... Read more

New addiction service at St Pat's

Greg Baxter | 03 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

An enhanced addictions and mental health service at St Patrick’s Hospital was launched last week — designed to ease the transition from detox to rehabilitation for inpatients, among other services. The enhanced Temple Centre for Addiction and Mental Health was... Read more

Smear format queried

Niamh Mullen | 03 July 2009 | Public Health

GPs are worried they will be forced to turn away eligible women who want a smear test if they do not have an invitation when CervicalCheck moves to a call/re-call format in the autumn. The new system will be randomised... Read more

Unhealthy food adverts face ban?

Gary Culliton | 03 July 2009 | Public Health

TV advertisements for foods high in fat, sugar and salt should be banned between the hours of 6am and 9pm, the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources heard recently. Representatives from the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) informed the... Read more

IMB awarded €3,000 in illegal drugs case

Dara Gantly | 03 July 2009 | Regulation

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has been awarded €3,000 in destruction costs by the Circuit Court in relation to a case involving the illegal supply of prescription-only medicinal products, including anabolic steroids. Michael Kehoe was found by the Court to... Read more

Minister to discuss the banning of practice of female genital mutilation

Niamh Mullen | 03 July 2009 | Public Health

THE African and Migrant Women’s Network in Ireland will meet with Health Minister Mary Harney this month to discuss the possibility of introducing legislation to ban female genital mutilation (FGM). AkiDwA wants to see common legislation throughout Europe to prevent... Read more

Ireland to host major health technology conference

Gary Culliton | 02 July 2009 | Research and Education

In Singapore this week Ireland was officially handed over the HTAi 7th Annual Meeting for 2010. It is expected that over 2000 international delegates will attend the conference in Dublin in June 2010. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)... Read more

Pharmacists threaten to withdraw from drugs schemes

Gary Culliton | 02 July 2009 | Public Health

The Irish Pharmacy Union has been informed by 1,000 individual pharmacists that they have written to the HSE giving 30 days notice of their intention to discontinue providing services on the community drugs schemes. The means that to date effectively... Read more

CMH move to Thornton Hall scrapped

Gary Culliton | 02 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The government has decided that Dublin’s Thornton Hall prison site is “not large enough” to accommodate an enlarged Central Mental Hospital. Minister of State for Health Mr John Moloney said that the HSE “has identified a need for an intellectual... Read more

Mater Hospital damaged by floods

Dara Gantly | 02 July 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The Mater Hospital has requested members of the public not to attend the hospital today (July 2) until further notice due to rainwater flooding, which has affected the Emergency Department and other areas. Those requiring emergency attention should make arrangements... Read more

Asthma warning at Oxegen

01 July 2009 | Public Health

The Asthma Society of Ireland’s asthma nurse specialist will attend the Oxegen Music Festival from July 10 to 12, to give advice to festival goers on how to avoid asthma and allergy triggers at the festival. The Asthma Society of... Read more

HIQA to inspect public nursing homes from today

Gary Culliton | 01 July 2009 | Regulation

HIQA will begin independent inspection of all nursing homes – including public nursing homes – from today. HIQA will be responsible for the registration and inspection of all residential care services for older people. For the first time HSE run... Read more